The nine months of pregnancy seem endless for many expectant mothers. In reality, it is amazing how much a baby grows and changes during that time. In fact, many of those changes, including the development of a heartbeat, occur before the expectant mother even knows she is pregnant, according to MayoClinic.com.
If you are addicted to alcohol and are pregnant, you must take serious measures to stop drinking. When you drink, so does your baby. No amount of alcohol is safe for your baby and can lead to serious complications. If you have been trying to stop drinking, your pregnancy can serve as the extra motivation you need.
Fetuses can most definitely hear you, beginning at the start of the second trimester. Playing music for your baby, still in the womb, may be all the rage, but it may not be good to overdo it. Just because the fetus can hear doesn't mean that you should try to enhance sensory stimulation. Too much of that could lead to bizarre adaptation patterns, according to "Psychology Today."
Many women take fish oil supplements during pregnancy at their doctors' encouragement. This substance has long been thought to boost a baby's cognitive development, but according to a new study, the key ingredient in fish oil, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), is actually of no help in that arena.
Before you and your partner even know that you're expecting a new addition, your future child's development has already begun, notes both MayoClinic.com and MedlinePlus. Pregnancy and its accompanying fetal development are divided into three distinct trimesters. While you might experience some unpleasant side effects like morning sickness, rest assured that your future son or daughter is developing into a healthy child as a result of your experiences. Avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, eating healthfully, promptly treating any infections and staying away from radiation are all crucial steps you can take to help your growing child's healthy development.
Pregnancy can be frustrating for so many reasons. All of the waiting and bloating can really take a toll on you. If only you could take a peek at your growing baby, instead of having to watch yourself grow. By learning about the changes your baby is undergoing, you can let pleasant dreams about your little one distract you from your growing ankles, belly and other body parts.
Each month of pregnancy leads to increased fetal development and prepares your future child for life outside of the womb, according to the Mayo Clinic. Each phase of pregnancy is critical, as certain developmental stages, such as the formation of sexual organs and fingerprints, usually happens during specific points of each expectant mom's term.
Technically, by the time you are considered four weeks, or one month into your pregnancy, your baby has only been developing for two weeks. This is because a pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your last menstrual cycle. For most women, this is at least two weeks before conception even occurred. In the first month, your baby's development takes you into your sixth week of pregnancy.
As you enter the final months of your pregnancy, you also leave what many moms consider to be the best trimester of a pregnancy. Your baby's growth in these final three months is rapid, and you will soon begin to feel like she takes up every inch of space. Often, there is some confusion about just when the third trimester starts. The American Pregnancy Association uses week 27 of gestation as the start of the third trimester.
Over the course of your pregnancy, the fetus inside you will grow from a tiny little egg to a complete human being. The nine months it takes a baby to develop are an exciting time, both for you and for the fetus. Each month of your pregnancy will bring new developments to the fetus as well as new changes to your body.
